Why It Matters: For over 80 years, sportsmen and women have been the primary funders of conservation in North America. The “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF) relies on those who consumptively use the resource to pay for the privilege to do so. Today, most state fish…
Why It Matters: Efforts to promote and conserve our sporting heritage today stand to benefit sportsmen and women for generations to come. Whether that is revolutionizing fisheries management or recruiting the next generation of hunters, proactive efforts today will last for well into the future for all Georgians. Highlights: On February 13, Georgia Legislative Sportsmen’s…
Why It Matters: Whether they are aware of it or not, sportsmen and women support the “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding through the purchase of firearms, ammunition, and other related outdoor sporting goods. Manufacturer-level excise taxes collected on these products are funneled directly back into conservation. 2nd…
Why It Matters: Today’s youth are the future sportsmen and women that will be called upon to carry on our sporting heritage. Efforts to establish hunter education classes in Georgia’s schools will benefit children in grades six through twelve by bringing our time-honored traditions into the classroom and recruiting the next generation of sportsmen and…
Why It Matters: In a world where it seems to be increasingly easier for kids to be completely disconnected from nature and our time-honored traditions, efforts to bring awareness and hands-on training into schools would positively impact today’s youth on multiple fronts. Additionally, efforts specifically targeted at bringing hunter education programs to schools would play…
Why It Matters: Since its inception in 2004, the Georgia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) has been among the strongest state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses in the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) network. The Caucus’ track record of victories and successes has been built on the back of strong Caucus leaders coupled with the support of…
Why It Matters: As America’s original conservationists, sportsmen and women understand the importance of conserving our nation’s wildlife. This also rings true for conserving North Atlantic right whales (NARW). The recreational boating and fishing community fully supports efforts to protect NARW. However, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposed rule, in its final stages…
Why It Matters: The resounding success experienced by the Georgia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus since its inception into the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses in 2004 is largely due to a history of strong leadership coupled with steadfast support from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). Georgia offers a wide variety of hunting and angling opportunities for…
Why It Matters: At the core of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is the key tenet that wildlife is managed as a public trust resource for the benefit of all citizens. The Public Trust Doctrine is the center of this key tenet which establishes a trustee relationship for the government to manage fish,…
Airbow and airgun legality for hunting use varies by state. Where some limit airgun use based on minimum calibers, velocities and ammunition grain weights based on the game species, other states do not mention airguns at all, leaving ambiguity in the minds of prospective users. As advances in technology continue, legislators are generally encouraged to…
Many sportsmen and women depend on federal lands managed by agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for access to activities like hunting, fishing and recreational shooting. As these agencies develop strategies to manage federal lands, it is critical for those who support these activities…